Current Challenges of Managing Urban Heritage in Turkey

Abstract

Turkey possesses a rich historic and cultural heritage, yet shifting economic, political, legal, and social conditions increasingly transform this legacy into a liability. Since the mid-1980s, neoliberal policies, privatization of public assets, expansion of local government powers, and global capital penetration have commodified heritage, treating it as an economic and symbolic asset to enhance cities’ competitiveness. This approach has undermined the social and cultural significance of heritage, turning it into a tool for city branding and urban regeneration. At the same time, rapid urbanisation poses growing threats to historic and cultural assets. The paper discusses these current challenges across political, legal, financial, and social dimensions, highlighting the pressures and risks facing heritage conservation in Turkey.